ERIK WESSELIUS: THE BULGARIAN LOBBYISTS TO ESTABLISH REPRESENTATIONS IN BRUSSELS

Europe Gateway contacted Erik Wesselius, senior policy analyst at Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), for comment on the Report on Lobbyism, recently adopted by the EP.

Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) is a European NGO, based in The Netherlands. This independent research and campaign group focuses on the issue of corporate political influence at the level of the EU and international institutions. CEO is a leading member of ALTER-EU - an alliance of 160 NGOs working in the field of lobbyism transparency. The Association supports the European Transparency Initiative of the European Commission launched in 2005.

The report which regulates lobbyism practices was prepared by Alexander Stubb MEP (EPP-ED, Finland). EP Lobbyism Report calls for the drawing up of a mandatory common register of lobbyists with the Council, the Commission and the Parliament.

Erik Wesselius comments on ALTER-EU's critique on the European Commission's Lobbyists Register that will be launched on 23 June 2008. The EC's register will not include indication of the names of lobbyists engaged in lobbying for certain organizations.

In his opinion the Lisbon Treaty facilitates the adoption of mandatory legal basis on lobbyism. "We do not necessarily need a new treaty in order to have compulsory disclosure of lobbyists and their activity. The preparation of the Lobbyists Register can start now, even as early as this summer, there is no reason to wait for the Lisbon Treaty to come into force in 2009", he further explains.

The СЕО expert says that he does not know much about Bulgarian lobbyism in the EU. "I would recommend that Bulgaria imposes good practices of transparent lobbyism, including conflict of interests, the same as we are trying to achieve on the European level". He advised Bulgarian lobbyists to establish representations in Brussels. "You should always seek contacts with people from other countries who have the same goals and intentions as you do", Mr. Wesselius advised.

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